iMEDICAL MARIJUANA BILL CONTINUES TO PROGRESS
On Thursday, the Senate Finance Committee approved the "NC Compassionate Care Act," legislation that would make medical marijuana legal in North Carolina. The Medical Cannabis Production Commission would be established by Senate Bill 3, and it would have the authority to grant licenses for the supply of medical cannabis. Additionally, it would have the authority to revoke or suspend licenses. Only ten supplier licenses, each of which can run no more than four medical cannabis centers, may be granted by the commission. Each supplier is required to give the Department of Health and Human Services a monthly fee equal to 10% of their gross cannabis sales revenue. On Tuesday, the bill was approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee. It now moves to the Senate Rules and Operations Committee, whose chairman is Senator Bill Rabon, a cancer survivor and pro-cannabis advocate. The bill's passage through the state Senate is widely anticipated, but its fate in the state House is uncertain.
MAINTENANCE OF VETERANS’ CEMETERIES
According to the head of the state agency in charge of looking after them, North Carolina has four state-owned veteran cemeteries, all of which are behind on maintenance, understaffed, and in need of funding. The N.C. Department of Military & Veterans Affairs secretary, Lt. Gen. Walter Gaskin, claims they need an additional $1 million from the state each year. On Wednesday, Representative Diane Wheatley (R-Cumberland) introduced House Bill 178. The proposed legislation would require the NC Department of Military & Veterans Affairs to "enhance overall maintenance" of the state’s four state-owned veteran cemeteries, including addressing issues with headstone installation delays, grave and marker damage, as well as drainage and flooding issues, debris cleanup, and general grounds appearance. If the bill passes, the organization will have to submit a report by October 1 on any required changes to its policies.
MEDICAL BILLING TRANSPARENCY ADVANCES
Since its introduction on January 31, Senate Bill 46, entitled "Medical Billing Transparency," has been moving steadily through the Senate. If passed, this legislation would prevent North Carolinians from becoming victims of surprise medical billing by out-of-network healthcare providers that have rendered healthcare services at health service facilities that are in-network with an individual’s health benefit plan. On Thursday, the measure advanced out of the Senate, passed its first reading in the House and was sent to the House Rules Committee.
SPORTS BETTING BILL TO BE INTRODUCED
According to new legislation anticipated to be introduced in the state House, gamblers in North Carolina would be able to wager on the 2024 Super Bowl from their cellphones and other electronic devices. The final legislation from last year that was defeated in the House by a single vote is similar to the proposal to legalize mobile sports betting. Sports betting is permitted in North Carolina, but it is only available in-person at three tribal casinos in the state. The law would permit widespread adult gambling in North Carolina on a variety of sports, including collegiate athletic competitions. Supporters of the bill in the legislature believe they have the support needed to pass the legislation this year due to changes in the makeup of the legislature and more time to address critics' concerns. Before the House votes on the measure, it must pass through a number of House committees. Additionally, the Senate must approve it before Governor Roy Cooper can enact it into law. Cooper has repeatedly stated that he would sign legislation legalizing mobile sports betting, which the Senate passed last year.
TAXPAYER PROTECTION ACT PROPOSAL
If lawmakers and voters adopt a plan introduced this week in the North Carolina House, the state would be subject to a new state constitutional cap on the growth of government expenditures. House Bill 146, the Taxpayer Protection Act, was introduced by Rep. Dennis Riddell (R-Alamance). The Act stipulates that spending growth is limited to the rate of inflation plus population growth. With a two-thirds supermajority vote in the House and Senate, lawmakers could exceed the cap. The following wording could be on the ballot for the November 2024 general election. “Constitutional amendment limiting the annual growth of the State budget to a percentage equal to the sum of annual inflation and the State’s annual population growth rate unless increased in a year in which two-thirds of both chambers of the General Assembly votes in favor of the increase.”
GUN PERMITS BILL HEADED FOR SENATE
Tossing out a long-standing requirement that North Carolina handgun buyers first obtain a permit from their county sheriff, Republicans approved House Bill 50 on Wednesday in a 67-48 vote along party lines, with four Republicans and one Democrat abstaining. According to the proposed legislation, county sheriffs would no longer be required to assess an applicant's moral character and mental health or to confirm that the weapon will be used lawfully. It now moves to the Senate, which last week passed competing gun legislation.
